Vitamin Trader - Healthy Discounts on Quality Vitamins

Not so! Recent groundbreaking work by geneticists reveals that the epigenome - an array of chemical markers and switches that lie along the length of the DNA double helix – is a major influence and catalyst that can influence the outcome of DNA programming.

Epigenetic switches can turn on or off the expression of particular genes. The epigenome is sensitive to its environment and researchers are finding that an extra bit of a vitamin, an exposure to a toxin, or extra mothering can alter the expression of DNA (genes) for an entire lifetime! Even more astounding is that what you eat or smoke today may affect the health of your great grandchildren.

Some researchers are specifically focusing on how the epigenome can affect inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, neurodegenerative diseases, and diabetes. Specifically, individuals might be able to maintain the integrity of their epigenomes through diet – and thereby influence a positive outcome for any disease process or even head off the expression of disease.

Here’s how this might work. Biologist Ming Zhu Fang at Rutgers University studied the epigenetic effects of green tea. Fang found that a major polyphenol from green tea can prevent the shutting down of certain cancer-fighting genes. Fang and colleagues have also shown that genistein and other compounds in soy show similar epigenetic effects.

Excerpted from Discover Magazine, Nov. 2006 “DNA Is Not Destiny“ by Ethan Watters.